AC Milan Coach Conceicao Expresses Gratitude to Udinese Fans for Their Warm Applause for Maignan

AC Milan’s manager Sergio Conceicao commended the Udinese supporters for their respectful applause for Mike Maignan after the goalkeeper had to be stretchered off following a head collision with teammate Alex Jimenez during the second half of their comfortable 4-0 victory on Friday.

At the time of the incident, Milan was leading 2-0 in Serie A when Maignan ventured out of his area and collided with Jimenez while attempting to intercept the ball in the 51st minute.

It’s worth noting that Maignan was subjected to racial abuse during Milan’s last visit to Udinese back in January 2024, where he momentarily left the pitch due to the racist chants directed at him by parts of the home crowd.

“I was truly impressed. Seeing a player on the ground amidst the chaos… I must commend the Udinese supporters,” Conceicao remarked during an interview with Sky Sport.

“The player is one thing, and the person is another. They can jeer at the player but not the individual. That round of applause was an extraordinary gesture; in my 40 years in football, I’ve witnessed very few acts like that. At present, Mike is in hospital undergoing tests.“

Clearly alarmed, Milan’s players urgently called for the medical team to attend to Maignan, who appeared to be unconscious for a short period.

The Rossoneri currently occupy ninth place with 51 points, with only six matches left in a season that has been largely underwhelming.

“We played as a cohesive unit today, but it’s just three points,” noted Conceicao, whose team has managed to secure only three victories from their last eight matches.

“Now, our focus shifts immediately to Atalanta. Overall, I observed a solid and balanced team that looked physically ready. It was crucial to have 2-3 weeks dedicated to our preparations.”

Milan will host third-placed Atalanta next weekend, followed by a crucial second leg in their Coppa Italia semi-final against Inter Milan, which represents their best opportunity for qualifying for European competitions next season.

When pressed about whether the team still believed in the prospect of achieving European qualification, Conceicao remained non-committal.

“Our priority is to focus on tomorrow’s training; there’s no need for excessive talk,” he stated. “Ultimately, what matters are the results we produce in training each day, and the outcome will take care of itself during matches.”